Railway-switch.



'PATENTFD DEC. 27, 1904.

' A J. NBAPIE. RAILWAY SWITCH v APPLIOA TIOKPIALED FEB. 14, 1903.RENEWED APR. 25, 1904. 4

UNITED STATES Patented December 27, 1904.

PATENT OFFI E.

-RAlLWAY-SWITCH.

srnc'rricn'rxon forming part of Letters Patent No. 778,262, datedDecember 27,

Application filed February 14, 1908. Renewed April 25, 1904. Serial No.204,720.

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, ANDREW J. NEAFIE, a citizen of the United States,residing in Boonton, in the county of Morris and State of New Jersey,have invented a certain new and use ful Improvement in Railway-Switches,of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to means for operating and controllingrailway-switches, and more particularly to means for securely lockingthe switch-point in the desired position. In the usualswitch-controlling mechanism the main safeguard against misplacement isthe locking at the switch-stand, generally more or less removed from theswitch, of the train of connections from the stand to the switch-point,and as there is more or less play in the'several joints "in themechanism it is often found that the looking at the switch-stand may beperformed without insuring the close relation between the switch-pointand adjacent rail necessary to avoid danger of accident.

I employ a switch-stand in which in addition to the locking means isprovided an auxiliary lock or bolt operating directly on theswitch-point and actuated by the switchthrowing mechanism.

The objects of theinvention are to provide a bolt serving to hold theswitch-point against movement While the switch is set and means wherebysuch bolt is automatically moved by the action of the switch-throwingmechanism in setting the switch, in addition to a locking means for suchmechanism, and also an additional safeguard preventing theswitch-throwing mechanism from assuming the position of safety untilthe, switch-point is properly thrown and locked in either the fullyclosed or open condition.

The invention consists in certain novel mechanisms and arrangements ofparts and in certain details of construction, to be hereinafterdescribed, by which the above objects are attained.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification and show theinvention as I have carried it out.

Figure 1 is an elevation of the improved switch-stand and bolt-operatingmechanism adapted to 1001: both switch-points seen transversely of therails, which are shown in cross.- section. Flg. 2 1s a correspondingplan view W1th certain portions of the switch-stand omitted, and Fig. 3is an elevation of the switchstand seen at a right angle to Fig. 1. Theremaining figures are on a larger scale. Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectionthrough the switchstand, showing the bolt-operating mechanism in planview. Fig. 5 is an elevation of the bolt. Fig. 6 is a corresponding planview, and Fig. 7 is an end view. Fig. 8 is a side view of a portion ofthe stand, showing the means for holding the switch-lever and its shaftout of the inoperative position until the switch-throwing mechanism andbolt are properly conditioned. Fig. 9 is a rear elevation correspondingto Fig. 8, but showing the parts in the inoperative position after theswitch-throwing mechanism and bolt havebeen properly. set and locked.Similar letters of reference indicate the same part in all the figures.

1 will describe the invention as applied toa quarter-throw switch-stand,in which the switch-point is thrown by turning the vertical shaftthrough one-fourth of a revolution and in which the bolt is arranged. tolock bothswitch-points. A is a timber supporting the switch-stand andextending beneath the rails B B, analogous to a tie and carrying therails on the slide-plates C C, as usual. comprises a plate D,having theapron D, either formed in one therewith, as shown, or in a separatecasting, secured to the timber A by bolts A A extending through in bothdirections. Upon the plate is the upright standard D having thevertical-bearings D D and head D These parts are preferably in a singlecasting. The apron D carries two outwardlyextending'lugs D D serving asbearings for a shaft to be presently described.-

E is the switch-stand shaft, extending vertically through the bearings DD and head D and carries above the latter a collar E having a lug E towhich is pivoted the jaws F of the hand-lever F, the head of which isslotted at f to receive either of-the staples D on the head D by whichthe hand-lever is locked in I the dependent or inoperative position by apadlock (not shown) engaged in the staple, as

The switch-stand usual. From the upper end of the shaft extends a rod E,carrying the vanes E forming the target. At the lower end of the shaftis a crank E, having a long crank-pin E, extending loosely through theeye G of the switchrod G and engaging when at either extreme of itsthrow in one of the slot-holes (Z in a thickened portion D of thestand-plate D. The shaft is raised to withdraw the crank-pin E from theslot-hole by a foot-lever H, pivoted in the base of the stand and havinga head H bearing upwardly against the under face of the crank E.

About midway between the bearings D 1) on the shaft is a collar E havingan annular groove 0, in which is engaged a pin J, extending laterallyfrom a lever J, pivoted at one end to a stud J secured to the stand andcarrying at its free outer end a link K, the lower end of which ispivotally attached to an arm M on atumbling rod or shaft M, received inthe horizontal bearings D on the lugs D.

E is a helical spring encircling the shaftE between the collar E and theupper bearing D" and serving to assist gravity in forcing the shaftdownward.

The switch-rod Gr extends transversely beneath the rails and isconnected to the switchpoints N N as usual or in any preferred manner.

The tumbling-rod M extends parallel with the switch-rod, but at aslightly lower level and passes beneath the rails and switch-points andis supported in bearing A A secured to the side of the timber A orotherwise. The rod M at points adjacent to the rails is thickened, asindicated at M M and provided with lugs M M and l\ M, the former servingwith the rail B and switch-point N nearest to the stand and the latterwith the outer rail 13 and switch-point N. Both pairs of lugs are inline with each other and project from the same face of the rod, and thelugs of each pair are located at such distance apart as to receive theflanges of the adjacent rail and switchpoint between them, and thus tohold the switch-point securely in the closed position when desired. Thelugs are also so spaced as to present one between the switch-point andrail when the point is in the open position, and thus prevents theaccidental movement of the point toward its rail in the direction toclose.

The operation is as follows: Assuming the parts to be in the positionshown in Figs. 1 and 2 and it is desired to open the switch, theattendant raises the hand-lever F to release the mechanism and depressesthe foot-lever H, which correspondingly elevates the shaft E against theforce of gravity and the spring E sufficiently to lift the crank-pin Eout of engagement with its slot-hole (Z and free the mechanism. Theupward movement of the shaft through the collar E and pin J causes thefree end of the lever J to rise and through the link K and arm M inducesa partial rotation of the tumbling-rod M and turns the lugs M M and M* Mfrom the vertical position in engagement with the switch-poi n ts andrails to the inoperative horizontal position and permits theswitch-points to be thrown by the movement of the hand-lever F, actingthrough the shaft E, crank E, pin E, and switch-rod (i, connected to theswitch-points, until the pin E" reaches the second slot-hole u, in whichitimmediately engages, beingforced downward by the weight of the parts,aided by the sprin E. This downward movement produces a partialrevolution of the tumbling-rod in the reverse direction and causes thelugs thereon to again rise, the pair M M embracing the outerswitch-point N and rail B between them, and one of the pair M M" lyingbetween the inner rail B and switch-point N to prevent the approach ofthe latter to its rail. The parts are thus securely locked and held inthe new position until a repetition of the operation and a reversemovement of the shaft E returns them to the original position.

By locking the ends of the switch-points directly to the adjacent railsat the points of service the danger of slight movements of theswitch-points due to lost motion in the switchstand mechanism and itsconnections is avoided, and any accidental strains on the switch-rod Gproduce no movement of the switch-points until the tumbling-rod M hasbeen rotated sufficiently to release them.

It will be observed that no additional manipulation by the attendant isrequired in operating a switch-stand equipped with my invention. The actof raising the shaft to withdraw the pin E from the slothole and permitthe switch to be moved also unlocks the points, and the lowering of theshaft again locks them. Thus the same movements required to be made bythe attendant in operating the switch in the usual manner also actuatesthe bolt, and in addition to the lochingeffected by the engagement ofthe pin E in its slot-hole the bolt serves as an auxiliary lock actingdirectly and automatically upon the switch points at the points ofgreatest elliciency. The interposition of one of the lugs of the boltbetween the open switch-point and rail is of secondary importance, thetransverse connections between the points being usually sufficient toinsure the proper relative positions; but in situations in which thevibration and shocks due to passing trains or other causes tend to causethe switch-point to crawl toward its rail the position of the luginsures the required space between them under all conditions.

As an additional safeguard against inadvertently leaving the switch openor but partially closed 1 provide means for preventing the return of theparts and also of the handlever F to the locked position until the shaftE has been turned sufliciently in one direction or the other to insurethe proper placing of all the parts and permit the slot f in thehand-lever to engage one or the other of the staples D. This is effectedby a partialfiange or guard D" on the rear of the head D and occupyingthe arc described by the movement of the lever in swinging from oneextreme position to the other. The guard is of such height as to becleared by the lug E and the I O lever when the shaft E and itsconnections have been elevated by the action of the footlever. Thusconditioned the shaft may be turned in either direction withoutinterference, but cannot be lowered until turned far 5 enough to permitthe lug and lever to descend at one side or the other of the guard insuch position that the staple will enter the slot and it is certain thatthe complete movement of the switch-point has been made.

proportions of the parts without departing from the invention orsacrificing its advantages, and parts of the invention may be usedwithout the whole.

Although I have shown the invention as arranged to lock bothswitch-points, one in the open and the other in the closed condition, itwill be understood that one bolt may be omitted, preferably at theswitch-point that lies 3 normally open, depending upon the switchrod andits connections to control the other switch-point.

The invention may be applied to switches of other types than thequarter-throw shown and described, and will also serve to hold themovable point in a stub switch. The spring E may be dispensed with,depending upon' gravity alone to insure the descent of the shaft E andthe performance of the oper- 4 ations induced by such descent. The guardD may beomitted or may be'used on switchstands of other types equippedwith different switch throwing and locking mechanism.

All the parts not specifically described may be understood to be of anyordinary or approved construction, and any parts omitted from thedrawings and description may .be as usual in mechanism of this class.

I claim I 1. In a railway-switch, a switch-stand and connectionstherefrom to a switch point whereby the latter is thrown, an oscillatingrod, lugs thereon to engage between the switch-point and rail to actdirectly upon the switch-point to holdthe switch in a closed position,mechanism carried on said switchstand and connecting to said rod wherebythe operation of conditioning said mechanism to throw the switch movessaid rod and releases the switch-point, and means whereby the axialmovement of the switch-stand 'shaftactuates the auxiliarylocking means.

2. In a railway-switch, a switch-stand having a shaft and means forturning it, a crank 5 on said shaft and connections therefrom to aModifications may be made in the forms and switch-point, means formoving said shaft axially, a tumbling-rod extending beneath saidswitclrpoint, a locking means carried on said tumbling-rod adapted toengage said point and hold it against movement, and means actuated bythe axial movement of said shaft for inducing a partial rotation of saidtumbling-rod, whereby said switch-point is released by said lockingmeans.

8. In a railway-switch, a switch-stand having a shaft and means forturning it, a crank* pin on said shaft and connections therefrom to aswitch-point, a slot-hole receiving said pin and serving to hold saidswitch-point against movement, means for moving said shaft axially towithdraw said pin and permit said switch-point to be moved, atumblingrod extending beneath said switch-point and its adjacent rail,an auxiliary locking means 4:. In a railway-switch, a switch-standhaving a shaft and means'for turning it, a crank on said shaft andconnections therefrom to a switch-point, means for moving said shaftaxially to permit turning, an auxiliary locking means for holding saidswitch-point in position relatively to the rail, and mechanism carriedby said switch-stand whereby said axial movement of said shaftautomatically actuates said auxiliary locking means.

5.v In a railway-switch, a switch-stand having a shaft and means forturning it, a crank on said shaft and connections therefrom to theswitch-points, means for moving said shaft axially, a tumbling-rodextending beneath the rails and said switch-points, a locking meanscomprising pairs of lugs carried by said rod, each pair adaptedtoreceive and hold one of said switch points and rails between themwhen. closed, and to holdsuch pointand rail apart when separated, andmeans actuated by said axial movement for partially rotating saidrod,.whereby said locking means are antomatically turned to release saidswitchpoints by the movement of said shaft in one direction andautomatically turned to lock said points by a movement of said shaft inthe opposite direction.

6. In a railway-switch, a switch-stand, a shaft mounted therein andhaving a crank,

moving it axially, connections from said crank to the switch-point, agrooved collar E on said shaft, a lever J having a pin J engaged in saidcollar, a tumbling-rod M supported in said stand and having an arm Mthereon, a link K from said lever to said arm, a pair of lugs on saidrod adapted to engage and hold means for turning said shaft and meansfor said switch-point between them, whereby the axial movement of saidshaft in one direction turns said lugs to release said switch-point andan axial movement of said shaft in the opposite direction turns saidlugs to lock said switch-point.

7 In a railway-switch, a switch-stand, a shaft mounted therein andhaving a crank, means for turning said shaft and means for moving itaxially, connections from said crank to the switch-points, a groovedcollar on said shaft, a lever J having a pin J engaged in said collar, atumbling-rod supported in said stand and having an arm M thereon, a linkK from said lever to said arm, the pairs of lugs I 3 M and M M extendingoutwardly from said rod on the same face of the latter, each of saidpairs adapted to receive and hold a switch-point and adjacent railbetween them, whereby the axial movement of said shaft in one directionturns said lugs to release said switch-points and rails, and an axialmovement of said shaft in the opposite direction turns said lugs toengage said switch-points.

8. In a switch-stand having a shaft and connected mechanism for throwinga switch-point by the partial rotation of said shaft, a lever secured tosaid shaft for imparting such rotation, and means carried by saidswitch-stand for preventing the depression of said lever until saidshaft has been turned sufficiently to insure the proper movement of saidswitchpoint.

9. In a switch-stand, ashaft arranged to be raised to permit its partialrotation, mechanism operated by such rotation for throwing aswitch-point, a lever secured to said shaft for imparting such rotation,and means carried by said stand for preventing the lowering of saidlever and shaft until the latter has been turned sufiiciently to insurethe proper movement of said switch-point.

10. In a switch-stand, a shaft arranged to be raised and lowered topermit its partial rotation, mechanism operated by such rotation forthrowing a switch-point, a lever secured to said shaft for impartingsuch rotation and arranged to fold downward relatively to said shaft andbe locked in such depressed position, a guard on said stand arranged toallow said lever to clear it when said shaft is raised, and to preventthe lowering of said shaft and the depression of said lever until thelatter has swung sufficiently to escape said guard and impart therequired rotation to said shaft.

In testimony that I claim the invention above set forth I aflix mysignature in presence of two witnesses.

A. J. NEAFIE.

IVitnesses:

ANDREW CLARK, CHARLES R. SEARLE.

